GOTHENBURG: Volvo's new 800V technology makes its debut in its latest all-electric model, the upcoming ES90.
Volvo said the ES90 can add 300km of range in just 10 minutes at 350kW fast-charging stations and offers a driving range of up to 700km (WLTP).
Volvo noted that the WLTP driving range of up to 700km translates to 740km under the CLTC driving cycle in China, and applies to the all-wheel-drive variants with twin motors and 106kWh battery.
The benefits of an 800-volt electric system are numerous: the battery gets charged faster, the electric car gets an improved overall performance, and the electric system is more efficient compared with a 400-volt system.
Combine this with completely new battery management software and hardware, as well as a progressive design, and the ES90 goes farther and charges faster than any electric Volvo before.
To create Volvo's new 800-volt system, every component in the electric system has been upgraded to be compatible with 800 volts, including the battery cells, e-motors, inverter, charging as well as the climate and thermal systems.
That creates benefits in terms of charging, efficiency and performance.
A higher-voltage system means that it can deliver more power (in kilowatts, or kW) and range with the same current as a 400-volt system.
This approach generates less heat, meaning the battery can be charged faster up to 350kW without overloading the electric system.
Volvo's 800-volt system also contains lighter e-motors and other components, which reduces the car’s overall weight.
This also improves the system’s efficiency, while boosting the car’s acceleration and driving range.
The in-house-developed battery management software creates a more robust charging experience.
Compared to other electric Volvo cars, Volvo's new software cuts the time it takes to charge the ES90 from 10 to 80 per cent by as much as 30 per cent, down to 20 minutes.
This is partly thanks to the integration of adaptive charging software from Breathe Battery Technologies, a company Volvo invested in last year via the Volvo Cars Tech Fund, the group's corporate venture capital arm.
The ES90 is set for world premiere on March 5.
